Radiator cleaning apparatus



Dec. 4, 1934. B. JANUS 1,983,084

RADIATOR CLEANING APPARATUS 19, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct.

[77 V6 72 to r BER/v0 no Jam B JANUS Dec. 4, 1934 RADIATOR CLEANINGAPPARATUS Filed Oct. 19, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .9 IIIIIIIIII Q :lllll'lullll .mmm "M 9 Patented Dec. 4, 1934 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE 3Claims.

The invention appertains in particular to apparatus for cleaning oiautomobile radiators as described in the present specification and shownin the accompanying drawings which form part of ii the same.

The invention primarily relates to a device for discharging a cleaningsolvent through a radiator in order to remove accumulated grime orgrease from its interior. The invention however 1a is also susceptibleoi. use for cleaning other articles of a hollow nature particularlywhere there are crevices difficult of access.

The salient feature of the invention is that heated air and the cleaningsolution is successively discharged through the radiator by an automaticblow-oil valve. This is accomplished by a cylinder that fills with acharge of the heated solvent and has a connection with the interior ofthe radiator. Heated air is discharged from anmy other cylinder into thesolvent cylinder in order to force the solvent through the radiator; Ithas been ascertained from actual practice that the combined action ofair and solvent thoroughly cleans the interior oi the radiator andleaves its walls free of foreign matter that accumulates from theoperation of the cooling system of a conventional motor car engine.

A distinctive feature of the apparatus is that upon the solvent beingdischarged from its cylinder, a valve automatically opens to admit a newcharge and the entrapped air is allowed to escape through a by-pass inthe blow-ofi valve. This valve then closes to build up the pressure forejection of the new charge. Successive charges of v 5 heated air andsolution are forced through the,

radiator automatically until it is thoroughly cleaned. Both of thecylinders are immersed in a tank of the cleaning solution and areconnected to a pneumatic system for carrying out the invention.

Referring to the. accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation ofthe apparatus in which the solution tank is broken away.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the tank.

Figure 3 is a plan view thereof.

Figure 4 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the solvent cylinder.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view through the blow-off valve.

Figure 6 is a cross section taken on the line 6-6 thereof.

Like numerals of referenceindicate corresponding parts in each of thefigures throughout the drawings of the invention.

In carrying out this invention, a metal tank 7 is provided, which tankis of a size capable of containing an automobile radiator as at 8 thathas been detached from a vehicle. The tank is suitably constructed andis Supported upon legs 9.

A cover 10 may be hinged at 11 or otherwise arranged; and to facilitateopening and closing it a handle 12 is furnished.

The tank contains the solution which is main tained at a suitable depthand the radiator is immersed in it. The solvent may be of conventionalas character, hence no further description of it is re quired. Beneaththe iioor of the tank is a heating unit as generally represented by thenumeral 13. The heating unit is contained in the chamber 14 and may beelectric or gas. A standard unit m may be employed and it is suggestedthat it may be mounted on a slide plate 15. The unit not only heats thesolvent but also maintains it at a propertemperature. 7

0n the floor of the tank is a cylinder 16 for 75 containing a charge oithe solvent. One end of the cylinder has an outlet pipe 1'7 connected toa length of flexible tubing 18 which in turn is attached to an adapteror universal clamp 19 that is attached to the outlet 20 of the radiator.The w universal clamp is so constructed that it will attach to radiatorsof various makes of motor cars.

Opposite the'outlet pipe 17 is an air line 21 extending into thecylinder and terminating in a valve 22. The air line has an upturnedopenended nipple 23. over which the sleeve 24 of the valve 22 fits andslides. The valve is disposed within an inlet or opening 23' foradmitting the solvent into the cylinder. The opening has 'an internalseat 25 for engagement with a valve 22 which closes said opening. Thisvalve when not under the influence of air pressure rests under its ownweight upon the nipple and in this position is open to admit solventthrough the inlet 23'. As later explained in detail, pneumatic pressurein the pipe line causes this valve to rise and engage the seat 25 so asto close the inlet 23'. The air-line 21 is supplied with a hole 26' incommunication with the interior of the 1% cylinder.

The air-line 21 extends upwardly from the solvent cylinder and throughthe tank to the blow-off valve 26 and is connected to the nipple 27thereof. Adjacent to the solvent cylinder is an air-heating cylinder. 28having a, pipe 29 communicating therewith and extending upwardly to theblow-off valve aforesaid. This pipe is connected to the blow-oil valveat the base 30 thereof and also to a compressed airline 31 by means ofthe T 32. This air-line has a control valve 50 that is opened manuallyto start the apparatus operating and is maintained open during thecleaning treatment. A pressure gauge 31 is used to indicate the airpressure.

The blow-01f valve is composed of a body 33 having a chamber 34communicating with a small passage 35 leading to the pipe 29. A valveseat 36 is located at the inner end of the passage 35 for engagementwith a plunger 37 urged by a compression spring 38 having an end 39fitted in a bore 40. The end 39 has a plug 41 engaged by a screw 42 bywhich adjustment of the spring heated by the heating unit and since theair cylinder 28 is submerged in the solution, the air within it is alsoheated.

The solution cylinder is normally in communication with the body ofheated solvent in the tank by means of the inlet 23' and consequently isfilled from this supply. The compressed air line 31 is supplied by aconventional compressor and compressed air flows from it into thecylinder 28 and to the blow-off valve 26. By reason of the comparativelysmall passage 35 the spring 38 is able to hold the plunger on the seatuntil a substantial pressure is built up. When this pressure unseats theplunger the increased head enables it to be held open by a fairly lowpressure.

It will be understood that on account of the expansion of the compressedair in the cylinder 28 due to heat,- its pressure will naturally beincreased over that of the air line 31; consequently this heated airwill flow through the blow-off valve and through the pipe 21 to thesolvent cylinder 16. This closes the valve 22 and at the same time theheated air discharges through the opening 26 into the cylinder thusforcing the heated solvent out by way of the conductors 17 and 18 to andthrough the radiator. it will be manifest that the air pressure issubstantially maintained in drivingout the solvent by reason of theresistance set up by the solvent. However when once the solvent has beendischarged, the air pressure falls considerably owing to the freepassageway through the cylinder 16 and its piping to the radiator.

As the pressure falls the plunger 37 of the blow-01f valve closesshutting off the air. Consequently the valve 22 opens admitting a freshcharge of solvent into the cylinder 16. The air locked in the cylinderescapes through the hole 26' into the pipe 21 and through the port 44 ofthe blow off valve to the vent 4.5.

When the air pressure again builds up it opens the plunger 3'7 cuttingoff the vent 45 and again discharges by way of the pipe 21 through thehole 26' into the solvent cylinder. The valve 22 is again closed and thecharge of solvent forced into the heated air through the radiator.

To give a rsum of the action of filling and emptying the cylinder 16,this is achieved largely by the blow-off valve and the compressed airline.

The compressed air line, as already stated, is connected to aconventional compressor and the line is valve-controlled as at as shownin Figure 1. This valve 50 is opened to start the cleaning system inoperation and kept open during its entire operation, which allows airunder pressure to flow to the blow-off valve. The plunger 37 remainsseated until sufilcient pressure is built up by the compressor toovercome the resistance of the spring 38; whereupon the plunger isunseated.

Air from the compressor air line 31 flows through the pipe 29 to theair-heating cylinder 28 and upon being heated is forced through the openblow-off valve due to its pressure being increased over that of the airin the line 31 with which it is in communication. The heated air isconducted by the pipe 21 to the solvent cylinder 16 which'is filled bysolvent admitted through the inlet 23. The valve 22 is closed by theentrance of the air into the nipple 23 and at the same time the airenters the cylinder 16 through the opening 26' to drive out thesolution. Having discharged the solution, the empty cylinder and thepiping to the radiator are clear of the solvent, and consequently theair freely discharged and the pressure drops.

The valve 22 then opens to admit a new charge of solvent and the plunger37 of the blow-01f valve closes under its spring pressure. This isfollowed by an interval in which the compressor again builds up thepressure in the line 31 and in the air heating cylinder. Upon thepressure being restored, the plunger is unseated and the heated air isforced by the compressed air line to the solution cylinder so as todrive out the new charge of solvent. This cycle of operations continuesas long as the air compressor line 31 remains open.

The apparatus thus automatically flushes the radiator by successivedischarges of heated air and solvent. As the fluid escapes by way of theother opening in the radiator it agitates the solution in the tank andcleans the exterior surface of the radiator. While the invention isshown applied to apparatus for cleaning a radiator detached from avehicle it might otherwise be employed, and moreover various changes andmodifications may be resortedv to without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention.

What I claim is:-

1. A cleaning apparatus of the class described comprising a solventtank, a cylinder therein for containing a charge of solvent, a conduithaving an opening below the top of said cylinder and exteriorlyextending from the cylinder for connection to a radiator duct, therebeing an inlet opening for the solvent in the top portion of saidcylinder, said inlet having an internal valve seat,

an air line extending into the cylinder and terminating in an uprightnipple beneath the said valve seat, said air line having an openingwithin the cylinder and in advance of the nipple, a valve for engagingsaid valve seat and having a tubular extension loosely fitting over thenipple to close 7 it, said valve being supported on the nipple in itsopen position and being free to rise under the influence of air pressuretherein, and means for supplying the air line with compressed air.

2. A cleaning apparatus of the class described comprising a heated tankfor containing a solvent, a cylinder disposed on the floor of the tankand having an inlet in it for admitting the solvent, a valve forcontrolling said inlet, a conduit having an opening below the top ofsaid cylinder and exteriorly extending from the cylinder for connectionto a radiator duct, an air line extending from a source of compressedair and projecte ing into the cylinder with its terminus associated withthe valve to close it, said air line having a discharge opening withinthe cylinder, a blo'w-ofi valve interposed in said air line, aspring-urged plunger in said valve controlling the passage of comprisinga heated tank for containing a solvent, a cylinder disposed on the flooroi the tank and having an inlet in it for admitting solvent,

a pressure operated valve controlling said inlet, a

conduit having an opening below the top of said cylinder and exteriorlyextending fromthe cylinder i'or connectionto a radiator duct, an airline extending from a source of compressed air and projecting into thecylinder with its terminus associated with said valve for supplying airunder pressure to close it, said air line having a discharge openingwithin the cylinder, a blow-off valve interposed in said air line, saidblow-on valve having a chamber leading to a small ingresspassage, therebeing a port formed in said chamber and terminating short of the lengththereof, a vent communicating with the chamber, there being an openingcommunicating with the chamber and port, a spring urged plungerreciprocably disposed in the chamber to close the ingress passage, saidplunger in its closed position partially uncovering the port to permitit to communicate with the vent.

BERNARD JANUS.

